BLOOMINGTON - A forensic pathologist has ruled the death of a 5-year-old boy almost 39 years ago likely was caused by bronchial asthma or a reaction to an anesthetic given to the child after he broke his arm.

Larry Freitag died in the emergency room at what was then St. Joseph's Hospital, Bloomington, on May 19, 1969, where his mother, Nancy Gordon, had taken him with a broken right arm.

Years later, Freitag's sister, Cindy Patton, began to question the cause of the child's death and asked McLean County Coroner Beth Kimmerling's office to review the autopsy and inquest records connected with the boy's death.

Swelling of the child's brain was consistent with asthma and terminal seizures, according to a summary Kimmerling released Thursday of a report by pathologist Dr. Scott Denton. Autopsy reports indicate the child suffered seizures as doctors were attempting to set the fractured arm.

"There was no investigation or autopsy evidence of abuse that caused his death," according to Denton's opinion.

For Gordon, the report ends a period of painful reminders of her son's death.

"I'm very relieved it's over, but I'm not surprised about anything. I knew what the findings would be," said Gordon.

Denton's examination of the case included autopsy reports, a coroner's report, newspaper accounts of the child's death and the death certificate. Last month, Denton and Chief Deputy Coroner Barb Nafziger visited the back porch of a home on North Roosevelt Avenue, Bloomington, where Freitag lived with his family and reportedly fell and broke his arm.

There are two conditions that could have contributed to the child's death, but they could not be addressed by Denton after nearly four decades. One would be a fat embolism that could have moved from the fracture site to Freitag's lungs; the other could be an allergic reaction to an anesthetic injected in his right arm.

The conditions may have occurred "while the doctors were having a difficult time trying to reset the fracture-dislocation," said Denton.

Denton stated that fatal reactions have been reported from the anesthetic Novocain.

Patton said Friday the coroner's office review "has made me feel better, but there's still questions that weren't answered."

Patton and her sister, Lisa Rhodes, said in January they have harbored doubts about the cause of their brother's death for many years. Kimmerling agreed to ask Denton to ex-examine the cause of death and autopsy report.

The coroner said the county incurred no expenses related to the review. Denton did the review free of charge.